Chapter 1 Betrayal on the Night of the Proposal

Inside the private room at the hotel, beneath the glittering glow of a towering ten-tier champagne pyramid, Benson Gray stood with his newly hired assistant, Sophie Scott.

The two of them were cutting a birthday cake together, their fingers interlocked.

When Sierra Shaw entered the room, Benson didn't flinch or even look guilty. Instead, he spoke as casually as if they were discussing the weather.

"Sophie has the same birthday as you. She's here all alone, far from home, with no friends. So, I decided to move your birthday party to hers for now. I'll make it up to you in a couple of days."

Sierra's smile faltered, freezing in place as her grip on her purse slowly tightened.

Today was her 25th birthday. Benson had promised he would propose to her on this special day.

She'd worn the elegant white dress he had gifted her, spent hours perfecting her hair and makeup, and arrived at the hotel excitedly.

But the sight before her felt like a bucket of ice-cold water cascading over her head.

The engagement ring she had dreamed of—the three-carat pink diamond she had spent years imagining on her finger—was now sparkling brightly on Sophie's hand as Benson held her hand.

A sting of pain blurred her vision. Still, she forced her feet to move. Approaching Benson, she took a deep breath and pointed directly at Sophie's hand. "What about that ring?"

Benson shrugged with infuriating nonchalance. "It all happened so suddenly, I didn't have time to prepare a gift. Sophie liked it, so I gave it to her."

But that was her ring, the one she had spent three years choosing meticulously, imagining every detail.

She could almost hear the sound of her heart shattering. Her eyes reddened as her voice broke. "And me, Benson? What about me? What do you take me for?"

Benson clicked his tongue in annoyance. "Why are you acting so childish? Haven't I celebrated enough of your birthdays over the years? Can't you let Sophie have this one for once?"

Let it go? Why was it always her who had to back down? Benson had sabotaged the deal she was about to close to boost Sophie's standing in the company. He had stood idly by as Sophie spilled coffee on her, dismissing it as Sierra being overly dramatic.

And every time Sophie made mistakes, it was Sierra Benson that was expected to clean up the mess, hiding behind the excuse of, "those who are capable should do more".

All these years, what exactly had Benson taken her for? Did everyone else always matter more than she did?

Tears blurred Sierra's vision. She clenched her fists, desperate to preserve the last shred of dignity she had left. Without another word, she turned and hurried toward the restroom.

Behind her, a murmur of disapproval rippled through the small crowd of friends.

"Benson, you've gone too far this time."

"You know how much Sierra cares about this proposal, but you brought Sophie here just to get under her skin?"

Benson, utterly unbothered, continued slicing the cake. He placed one piece on a plate and handed it to Sophie.

Sophie's eyes flickered with triumph, though she quickly masked it with a nervous, apologetic expression.

"Mr. Gray, it's my fault. I shouldn't have come and upset Ms. Shaw. I'll apologize to her later, okay?"

Benson gave Sophie's shoulder a reassuring pat, his voice calm and condescending. "It's not your fault. She's just being overly sensitive. I've been meaning to break her of this habit of throwing tantrums for no reason."

"Benson, aren't you worried Sierra might get mad and refuse your proposal?"

Benson exhaled a ring of smoke, a mocking laugh escaping his lips as though he'd just heard the most ridiculous joke in the world.

"She's been dying to marry me since she was a kid, desperate to slap the name Mrs. Gray on herself. How could she possibly say no? If she wasn't obedient enough, she wouldn't even have the right to stay by my side."

The crowd around him erupted into cheers and laughter.

"That's our Benson! Even the campus queen of Oceanea University couldn't resist his charm!"

"Benson, teach us your ways when you've got time!"

"Pfft! Step one, find yourself a woman who's head over heels for you!"

Everyone in Vellmont City knew Sierra was practically Benson's shadow. The two of them were three years apart, childhood sweethearts. Sierra had followed Benson to Oceanea City for college, giving up her plans to stay by his side.

To support him during the early days of his business, Sierra abandoned her dream of studying piano.

She took on the role of his assistant, pulling all-nighters for a month straight just to help him close a single deal. She drank so much at business dinners that she developed stomach ulcers.

Their mutual friends often said Sierra loved Benson so much that she'd lost herself completely.

But Benson? He was so convinced Sierra would never leave him that he treated her cruelly without a second thought.

In the restroom, Sierra stood frozen, her hands covering her ears. She stared at her reflection in the mirror—a woman with red-rimmed eyes and pale skin.

Slowly, she forced her lips into a smile, one that looked more painful than tears.

"Sierra, it's been ten years. Can you stop being so pathetic already?"

Chapter 2 Breaking Up

Sierra wiped away her tears, retouched her makeup, and pushed open the restroom door. When she stepped out, the first thing she saw was Benson and Sophie, arms linked, clinking glasses in a toast.

"Ha ha. Benson, if you're gonna put on a show, go all the way! Why not head to the honeymoon suite after this?"

"Man, Benson's got it all—a classy, elegant wife and a cute, flirty little assistant!"

Sierra's heart twisted painfully as her gaze fell on their intertwined arms. This was the man she had loved for ten years…

Someone caught sight of Sierra returning and nudged Benson, their voice dropping to a whisper. "Benson, that's enough. Sierra's back."

"Sierra, they're just joking around and trying to lighten the mood. Don't—"

But Benson didn't even let them finish before cutting in sharply. "I'm not putting up with her tantrums!"

Then he turned to face Sierra fully, raising an eyebrow as though daring her to react. "If you don't like what you're seeing, then leave. Stop standing there ruining my mood."

Sierra forced herself to breathe past the stinging ache building in her nose, her eyes locking onto Benson's. "Benson, we're breaking up."

Her words hung in the air, slicing through the room like a blade. The chatter ceased instantly.

Did they hear her right? Sierra had just broken up with Benson?

Benson froze. Then, with an incredulous laugh, he flicked away his cigarette butt. "You're serious? Don't come crying to me later when you change your mind and want me back."

"Sierra, I'm so sorry. Mr. Gray was only keeping me company for my birthday because I didn't have any friends. Please don't let this affect your relationship with him.

"If you're mad, you can slap me a few times, but please, I'm begging you, don't break up with Mr. Gray."

Sophie stepped forward, grabbing Sierra's hand with trembling fingers. Her face was painted with a pitiful, helpless expression.

Slap!

The sound echoed through the room as Sierra's palm connected with Sophie's cheek.

Sophie froze, completely stunned that Sierra had actually hit her. A sharp sting radiated across her cheek, and she realized her carefully applied makeup was probably ruined.

"Sierra, are you crazy?" Benson, equally shocked by Sierra's actions, stood frozen for a moment. Then, snapping out of it, he raised his voice and stormed forward.

He shoved Sierra hard, pulling Sophie behind him to shield her protectively. Sierra stumbled back from the force of the push, colliding with the edge of the coffee table.

Her arm caught the blade of the fruit knife lying there, and a thin, sharp cut appeared. Blood began to flow almost immediately.

Benson's eyes darted to the blood, and for a brief moment, his expression shifted. He instinctively stepped toward Sierra as if to help her. But before he could move further, Sophie clutched his arm tightly.

"Mr. Gray, this is all my fault. Please don't be mad at Sierra. I'm willing to take a few slaps if it means she won't be upset anymore."

Benson's gaze shifted to Sophie's red, swollen cheek, and whatever guilt he'd felt toward Sierra dissolved in an instant. Anger and disgust replaced it.

"Look at you, so cruel and vicious. You don't have even a shred of the kindness that Sophie has. Right now, you're going to apologize to her."

His voice was firm and biting, but all of it was in defense of another woman.

Sierra closed her eyes, forcing back the tears threatening to spill. The pain in her arm from the cut was nothing compared to the ache in her heart.

For years, she had been chasing after Benson, believing that one day he would turn around and truly see her. But the boy who had once risked his life, charging into a fire to save her, no longer existed.

And her? She was tired. She didn't want to chase him anymore.

Sierra opened her eyes and slowly stood. The blood from her arm had seeped into the delicate fabric of her white dress, staining it a vivid red. Her face was pale, but her expression was cold and resolute.

She looked Benson directly in the eye and said, "I won't apologize. She asked for it."

Without waiting for a response, she turned and walked toward the door. Her steps were firm, her back straight, her departure decisive and final.

"Benson, I don't think Sierra looked too good. She's bleeding a lot. What if something happens to her?" someone said after a long moment of silence.

"She's not going to die," Benson replied irritably, frowning as frustration flickered across his face.

"Do you think she's really going to break up with you this time? How are you going to explain it to your family if she does?"

The Shaw family and the Gray family had been close for generations. Everyone knew the two families had an understanding about Sierra and Benson being together.

Benson let out a scoff and lit a cigarette. "She won't. She's just throwing a tantrum. Leave her alone for a few days, and she'll fix herself up and come back to me."

Chapter 3 Into His Arms

For as long as Benson could remember, Sierra had clung to him like glue, constantly meddling in his business. It was obvious that she adored him, but she always put on that aloof front, pretending she didn't care.

Her life was a quiet routine of reading, blending perfumes, playing the piano, and cooking—so dull, so lifeless.

Being around her felt suffocating like all the fun had been drained from his world. The only saving grace? She was obedient. There was no way she'd go through with breaking up.

She was just angry. Sierra had been mad at him before, plenty of times. He'd give her a small gift, toss out a few sweet words, and soon enough, she'd come running back to him with that same silly devotion.

"Just watch. Once this blows over, I'll send her a quick text. Next thing you know, she'll be at my place making me that special hangover remedy of hers. Women—you can't spoil them too much."

He spoke with utter confidence, certain she would never leave him. His self-satisfaction brought a lazy smirk to his lips.

"Damn, Benson! You've got your girl wrapped around your finger!"

"Honestly, I'm jealous. Even my housekeeper isn't as attentive as she is!"

Benson chuckled, draping an arm around Sophie's waist. "I'm in a good mood tonight. After we finish the cake, we'll head out for more fun. Tonight's on me—whatever you want."

…

Sierra stumbled out of the hotel, the blood from her wound had soaked through half of her white dress, and the sight of it drew curious glances from passersby.

Their expression was full of ridicule as if they were watching a clown staggering through the streets. Tears spilled down her cheeks uncontrollably, and all she wanted was to disappear.

So distracted was she by her anguish that she didn't even notice the man stepping into her path until she collided headfirst into his chest.

"Mr. Gray!"

Adrian Cole, trailing closely behind, jumped in alarm. He quickly stepped forward, ready to pull away the woman who had just stumbled into his boss, Theo Gray.

His immediate assumption was the usual—a shameless attempt by yet another woman to throw herself at Theo.

But before Adrian could intervene, the woman staggered back on her own and collapsed to the ground. He blinked, momentarily thrown off. Was this some kind of scam?

"Hey! Don't even think about faking a fall here! You were the one who ran into Mr. Gray!" Adrian snapped.

Theo's sharp gaze shifted downward, immediately catching the smear of blood now staining his shirt where the woman had collided with him. His brows drew together in a slight frown.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to," Sierra murmured instinctively.

She struggled to push herself off the ground, but her body felt utterly drained, her limbs limp and unresponsive. Her vision wavered, dark spot flickering at the edges.

At the sound of her voice, Theo's dark eyes flickered with a sudden intensity. He stared at the woman crumpled on the ground, and for a brief moment, disbelief flitted across his face.

Without hesitation, he crouched down beside her and reached out and brushed her disheveled hair back from her face.

Under the dim glow spilling from the hotel entrance, her features came into full view.

"Sierra," he murmured, his deep voice resonant and smooth, like the lingering note of a piano.

Sierra struggled to lift her head, her vision hazy, as though she were staring at a familiar face she couldn't quite focus on.

"You…"

Before the word could fully escape her lips, her world faded to black. She slumped to the side, unconscious.

Theo moved swiftly, catching her before she could hit the ground. His sharp eyes immediately zeroed in on the gash on her arm and the deep crimson soaking through the fabric of her white dress. His expression darkened, dangerous glint flickered in his gaze.

"Isn't she supposed to be getting married soon? How did she end up like this?" he muttered, his voice low and unreadable. Whether it carried concern or disdain was impossible to tell.

Without hesitation, Theo scooped her into his arms. The motion was unexpectedly gentle, almost cautious.

She was all grown up, but why did she feel even lighter than before?

Adrian, who had yet to get a proper look at Sierra's face, was frozen in disbelief. The notoriously aloof, untouchable Theo, who prided himself on his indifference to women, was now cradling one in his arms.

Had the collision somehow sparked feelings?

"Mr. Gray, are you—" Adrian began, his voice full of shock.

"The hospital," Theo interrupted.

"But you have an important meeting scheduled. We're at a critical stage in the negotiations! If you don't attend, we might lose the project!"

Chapter 4 Remember, My Name Is Theo

"Then forget it." Theo's voice was low, cutting through the air with an icy finality.

Adrian instantly closed his mouth. Without another word, he hurried to open the car door, his movements sharp and efficient.

…

By the time Benson staggered home, it was already night. He stumbled through the door, clearly drunk, and started yelling the moment he crossed the threshold.

"Where's Sierra? Didn't she come to apologize yet? Tell her to make me my special hangover remedy!"

It wasn't long before the housekeeper emerged from another part of the house.

"Young Mr. Gray, Ms. Shaw isn't here," she said politely.

Benson froze, a frown of disbelief settling on his face. He pulled out his phone and scrolled through the messages he'd sent Sierra earlier, instructing her to have his hangover remedy ready. No reply.

Well, well, well. So Sierra dared to ignore him.

His fury simmered beneath the surface, and with a sharp motion, he flung his phone onto the bed, his expression darkening.

The housekeeper, sensing the storm brewing in his mood, spoke cautiously. "Young Mr. Gray, would you like me to prepare the hangover remedy instead?"

"No! Get out!" Benson snapped, his voice sharp and cutting.

Without another word, the housekeeper turned and slipped out of the room, closing the door behind her.

…

When Sierra woke up early the next morning, the sharp tang of freshly sprayed disinfectant in the hospital room made her wrinkle her nose in discomfort.

Squinting against the room's brightness, she blinked a few times before noticing a tall figure standing by the window.

For a moment, disorientation swept over her, and a flicker of hope sparked in her chest. Her voice, hoarse from disuse, broke the silence.

"Benson?"

The man by the window froze at the sound of her voice. Slowly, he turned to face her, his expression cold and detached.

With the sunlight streaming in behind him, his features were cast in sharp relief.

The way his eyelashes cast faint shadows beneath his eyes only amplified the natural intensity and sharpness he seemed to exude.

As Sierra took in the full view of his face, the faint hope in her eyes vanished in an instant. Her already pale complexion drained further, leaving her ghostly white.

"Uncle Theo? Why is it you?"

It was Theo—Benson's uncle.

"Are you disappointed to see me?" His voice was cool and edged with a teasing trace of amusement.

Theo stepped closer, his tall frame towering over her as he approached the bed. The shadow he cast felt both overwhelming and inescapable.

Sierra had always harbored a conflicted mix of respect and fear toward him. She forced herself to remain calm, though her stiff expression betrayed her unease.

"No. I just mistook you for someone else," she replied carefully.

"Sierra, this is the second time you've mistaken me for someone else."

Theo's sharp tone cut through the air, cold and laced with quiet disapproval.

Sierra's eyes flickered slightly as her thoughts drifted back to the first time she had met Theo.

It had been three years ago, at the Gray Manor. She had gone there looking for Benson and had spotted a young man standing in the garden with his back to her.

His build was strikingly similar to Benson's, and he was even wearing the same style of white loungewear Benson often favored.

A playful idea had sprung to her mind—she wanted to scare him. Moving quietly, she crept up behind him, stood on her tiptoes, and covered his eyes with her hands.

"Benson, guess who?"

Her voice had been sweet and cheerful, her face glowing with a bright, mischievous smile. But the response she received wasn't Benson's warm, sunny tone. Instead, it was a voice cold, smooth, and unexpectedly captivating.

"I'm not Benson."

She froze, startled, her hands dropping as she stumbled backward in panic. The movement sent her tripping over her own feet, and she began to fall.

Before she hit the ground, a strong hand reached out, catching her and pulling her into a firm, steady embrace.

"Remember this, I'm Theo."

The icy voice rang out above her, and when she looked up, her breath caught in her throat. His face was impossibly handsome, but his sharp, cold eyes sent a chill straight through her.

At that moment, she realized she had unknowingly played a trick on the infamous "demon king" of the Gray family, a man feared for his cold and ruthless reputation.

Sierra had been terrified. From that day forward, whenever she encountered Theo, she would avoid him at all costs.

Now, as her gaze flickered with unease, she knew Theo hadn't forgotten that day either. He truly did live up to his reputation for holding grudges.

"I'm sorry, Uncle Theo."

Chapter 5 The Kiss Photo

Sierra lowered her head and apologized, her voice trembling slightly. She didn't dare open her eyes to meet Theo's gaze.

Theo's eyes fell to her hands, which were nervously clutching the edge of the blanket. A faint trace of amusement flickered across his face, almost imperceptible.

Without warning, he leaned down, closing the distance between them.

"I don't like it when people talk to me while looking somewhere else," he said.

His cold fingers brushed against her skin as he gently lifted her chin, forcing her to look at him.

Faced with his strikingly handsome features now magnified before her, Sierra's body tensed in an instant. Panic flickered in her wide eyes as unease wrapped itself around her.

"I said I'm sorry," she stammered.

"Sorry for what?"

His eyes, slightly upturned at the corners, carried an innate air of arrogance. Beneath his right eye rested a perfectly placed beauty mark that softened the sharpness of his expression.

There was no denying it, he was breathtakingly mesmerizing.

Sierra swallowed hard, desperate to steady her nerves. "I'm sorry, Uncle Theo. I won't mistake you for someone else again."

"Remember your words. If you don't, you'll face the consequences," he said with a deep, icy voice.

Then, he gave her a meaningful look before straightening up.

Sierra felt the weight of his gaze, her heart pounding uncontrollably against her ribs. She just mistook him for someone else. Did he have to be this angry?

"How did you hurt your arm?"

His cold voice sliced through the silence, sharp and deliberate.

Sierra's eyelashes fluttered as a wave of humiliation from the night before surged back to the surface. Her nose stung with the warning of tears she refused to let fall.

She swallowed hard, forcing herself to keep her composure as she steadied her voice. "I fell. It was an accident."

Theo's sharp eyes didn't miss the way her lips pressed tightly together, her emotions threatening to spill over. His gaze darkened.

"Uncle Theo, thank you for bringing me to the hospital. I'll transfer you the medical expenses. You're busy—I'm fine now, so you don't need to worry about me. Please, go handle your work," Sierra said at last, pasting a polite smile on her face.

Theo's lips tightened as he studied her smile—a smile that looked more painful than tears. His jaw flexed, but he said nothing.

Without a word, he turned and walked out of the hospital room.

The moment the door clicked shut, Sierra's resolve crumbled. She curled up on the hospital bed, her body shaking as soft, stifled sobs escaped her.

Outside the room, Theo stood motionless. Through the small window in the door, he watched her curled figure, his jaw clenched and his lips pressed into a thin line.

"Mr. Gray—"

"Find out what happened to Sierra at the hotel last night," Theo interrupted.

Adrian blinked, caught off guard by the sudden command. "So much for the meeting today," he thought.

After crying for a while, Sierra finally reached for her phone on the bedside table. As she unlocked the screen, her eyes landed on Benson's messages pinned at the top of her WhatsApp.

"Sierra, I've been drinking. Remember to make my special hangover remedy."

"Sierra, how dare you ignore my messages? There's a limit to how unreasonable you can be. If you call me now, apologize, and come to my place to make my hangover remedy, I'll forgive you for what you did today!"

Sierra stared at the messages, bitterness mingled with mockery as she reread his words. This was the man she had loved for years, a man who twisted every situation to make it her fault.

With a decisive motion, Sierra unpinned Benson's chat from the top of her WhatsApp. She didn't bother to reply. Instead, she opened her contacts and called her best friend, Madison Lloyd.

“Maddy, I'm at the hospital. Can you come pick me up?"

An hour later, Sierra sat in the passenger seat of Madison's car, listening as her friend unleashed a torrent of colorful curses.

"I swear to God, Benson is such a trashy piece! How dare he treat you like this? Cee, if you don't break up with him this time, I'm personally dragging you to get your eyes replaced!"

Madison's tone was fiery, laced with frustration and exasperation. She had hated Benson for a long time.

Sierra kept her head down, looking at Sophie's latest post on her social media story.

The newest update was a picture of Sophie's hand, proudly showing off a diamond ring. Beneath it was another photo, a shot of her kissing a man.

Chapter 6 She Should Apologize

The man in the photo was Benson. The caption read, "Having someone I love to celebrate my birthday with, is such a blessing."

The diamond ring on Sophie's hand was the very one Sierra had spent years dreaming of, the one she had imagined on her finger. And now, the man she had loved with all her heart was standing beside another woman.

She wasn't going to keep humiliating herself anymore. If Benson and Sophie truly loved each other, then fine. She would let them have each other.

Sierra turned off her phone and wiped the tears slipping down her cheeks.

"This time, I'll break up with him completely. No loose ends, no more connections. I'm done," she whispered firmly to herself.

…

At Oceanea Starline Media, Benson hadn't slept a wink the night before.

He kept picking up his phone and scrolling through it repeatedly, but no matter how many times he checked, Sierra did not reply.

When he arrived at the office early in the morning, his mood was already sour. Learning that Sierra had taken the morning off only fueled his irritation.

It wasn't until the afternoon when he heard that Sierra had returned to work that his frustration finally began to ease.

"See? She's still going to come back and apologize to me," he thought smugly.

But since she'd dared to throw a tantrum, she'd better be ready to face the consequences.

After going home to change clothes and having lunch with Madison, Sierra finally arrived at the office. But instead of seeking out Benson, she headed straight to the director's office to finish up the work she'd been handling.

A knock sounded on the door, but Sierra didn't look up. "Come in," she said evenly.

The door opened, and Benson stormed in, his face dark and thunderous. Sophie trailed behind him, meek and silent, like a shadow.

When Sierra didn't rise from her seat to greet him as she usually did, the irritation Benson had been barely managing to keep in check flared back to life.

He strode up to her desk, rapping on it twice.

"Do you need something?" Sierra asked calmly.

Her indifference made Benson's temper flare. He grabbed the pen from her hand and hurled it to the floor with a loud clatter.

"You've been at the office for hours. Why didn't you come to find me and apologize?" he demanded.

"What exactly did I do wrong that I need to apologize for?"

"You hit Sophie yesterday! Don't you think you owe her an apology?" Benson sputtered, his fury spilling over as he glared at her.

He had waited in his office, expecting Sierra to come to her senses, to admit her mistake. But she hadn't even bothered to show up, and now she dared to challenge him?

Sierra was amused by the absurdity of it all. She turned her gaze to Sophie who stood behind Benson and asked, "Do you think I owe you an apology?"

Sophie's voice was barely above a whisper. "No, no. It's my fault. Sierra, as long as you're not upset, I don't mind even if you hit me again."

Sierra let out a cold laugh, and her gaze shifted back to Benson. There was nothing but ice in her expression now.

"Did you hear that? Even she knows it's wrong to interfere in someone else's relationship. She deserved that slap. Honestly, I went easy on her."

Sophie's expression shifted ever so slightly. Since when had Sierra become so bold? In the past, whenever she was wronged, she'd stay silent, especially in front of Benson.

"Sierra, what are you even mad about now?" Benson asked, his tone edged with impatience.

"Did reviewing documents somehow offend Mr. Gray?" Sierra shot back.

Her cold, detached demeanor made Benson clench his fists. He forced himself to suppress the anger simmering beneath the surface.

"I'll say it one last time. Last night, I was just celebrating Sophie's birthday. That's all."

That's all? He had ruined the proposal she had been waiting for three years. He had taken the engagement ring she had picked out and placed it on another woman's finger, right in front of her.

Last night, when she had been hurt, he hadn't even bothered to ask how she was. Did she even have a place in his life as his girlfriend?

But now, none of it mattered to her. Not anymore.

"You don't need to explain anything to me. I don't care anymore," Sierra replied, her voice calm.

"Don't care? She's just being stubborn," Benson sneered inwardly.

He adjusted his cuffs deliberately. "Fine. If you don't care, then give this office to Sophie. Yours is closer to mine. It'll make it easier for her to bring me documents."

Chapter 7 She's Resigning

Benson's words hung in the air, reverberating through the office like a slap. Outside the door, coworkers froze in shock.

Sierra was a senior figure who had been with the company since its inception, tirelessly working alongside Benson to help close some of their biggest deals.

And wasn't she supposed to be his girlfriend? The one everyone assumed he was about to marry?

Meanwhile, Sophie was a fresh college graduate who couldn't even draft a proper document. What right did she have to be on the same level as Sierra, let alone take her office?

The employees felt a pang of sympathy for Sierra. They expected her to stand up for herself and to fight back. But to their surprise, she didn't argue. Instead, she calmly started packing up her belongings.

Her silence only fueled Benson's anger. He pointed toward the cubicles outside, his voice sharp. "Then go work over there!"

Sierra didn't flinch. She maintained her composure and carried her belongings to the open-plan workspace. It didn't matter to her where she worked, she had already made up her mind to resign.

From the sidelines, Sophie could barely contain her joy, though she masked it behind an expression of hesitant disbelief.

Tugging lightly on Benson's sleeve, she asked softly, "Mr. Gray, are you really giving this office to me?"

"Yeah," Benson replied with a curt nod. But even as he answered, his gaze drifted toward the outer office, where Sierra had taken a seat.

Sophie was unable to suppress her excitement. Pointing to the muted gray walls, she asked with feigned innocence, "Mr. Gray, I don't like this color. It's too dull. Can I have it redecorated in pink?"

"Sure. It's yours now. Do whatever you want with it."

That office had been Sierra's for three years. Everything in it—from the large desk and the couch to the smallest plants and decorative pieces—had been carefully chosen by her.

Now that Sophie wanted to replace it all, he didn't believe Sierra could keep her composure through this. But to his surprise, Sierra didn't react. She kept her head down, focused on her work as if nothing had happened.

Benson let out a low, frustrated laugh. Fine. She just had to keep this up, didn't she?

He had been planning to make up for last night's disaster by organizing another proposal for her this weekend, but clearly, there was no point anymore.

By late morning, Sierra finally finished the pile of documents she had been working on. Stretching her sore neck, she stood up to get a drink of water. But before she could move, someone stepped up and handed her a latte.

"Ms. Shaw, we're on your side. Mr. Gray has gone way too far this time!"

Another colleague leaned in, speaking in a low voice. "Don't worry. We'll find a way to force Sophie out."

Sierra offered them a grateful smile. "Thank you, but there's no need. I'll be leaving the company soon anyway."

Her words sent a ripple of shock through her colleagues.

Why? The company was on the verge of going public. Leaving now would be like handing over all of her hard work on a silver platter to someone else.

But Sierra simply shook her head, her expression calm and unconcerned.

She had never truly enjoyed running a business. For years, she had stayed in this world only because she wanted to remain by Benson's side.

When Sierra was graduating, her professor had tried time and again to persuade her to continue her studies. But she had stubbornly refused, disappointing those who had believed in her potential.

Now, she was determined to find herself again, to pick up the dream she had abandoned all those years ago.

Seeing the resolve in her eyes, her coworkers decided not to push her any further.

Even though she had completely lost faith in Benson, Sierra couldn't deny the pang of reluctance she felt about leaving behind the colleagues she had worked alongside day in and day out.

"Tonight, dinner's on me. Let's treat it as a farewell," she announced with a smile.

She booked the farewell dinner at the most luxurious restaurant in Oceanea City. The table was adorned with various dishes, while an entire row of champagne bottles stood ready to be opened.

As soon as the glasses were raised, the atmosphere grew lively, though a few of Sierra's longtime coworkers couldn't help but tear up.

"Ms. Shaw, we still can't believe this is happening. You don't deserve this, Sophie completely took advantage of the situation!" one of them said.

"Mr. Gray must be blind. That Scott woman is nothing but a pretender. How could she ever compare to you, Ms. Shaw?" another chimed in.

Sierra lifted her glass, her smile lighthearted but steady. "Alright. Let's not talk about things that ruin the mood. I'm about to leave, so let's focus on something happier."

Just as she raised her glass to take a sip, a firm hand grabbed her wrist from behind. A familiar voice, laced with anger, cut through the lively chatter.

"Sierra, what's this I hear about you leaving?"